THE CRITERIA:
Vehicles not older than three years, an acceptable alternative, and one sixyear-old budget beater.
THE CONTEXT:
Tough market conditions over the past few years have seen manufacturers launch a number of well priced and fuel-friendly new entry-level vehicles in South Africa. The positive spin-off for consumers looking for used cars is a little more bang for their buck.
THE ADVICE:
Following the same categories as our Top 12 Best Buy awards (page 52), these are the used vehicles one should consider if your budget is a consideration. We provide a choice of two we believe will be the most sensible buys.
01 BUDGET CAR
< R230 000
HYUNDAI GRAND I10
Even against newcomers like the Suzuki S-Presso and its sibling the Celerio, the Hyundai Grand i10 gets the nod. Following the older model we tested in 2014 is the more updated version from 2021, limiting the category to a maximum of three years old. The facelift is more common but there, not many can be found for under R150 000. Most examples in our budget are fitted with a three-cylinder engine delivering 48 kW. These sprint to 100 km/h in under 15 seconds and consume an average of 6,5 L/100 km. If you are quick at the draw, you may be able to find the larger, smoother, more powerful 1,2-litre version. We also noticed that most examples have been well used and have mileages exceeding the average
